Deontay Wilder survived a barrage of overhand rights and left hooks in the eighth round of his heavyweight bout with Joseph Parker – and fans can't believe he was still standing.
'The Bronze Bomber' was outclassed by Parker, who pulled off the biggest win of his career in Saturday night's co-main event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Wilder, who returned to the ring for the first time since October last year – when he beat Robert Helenius inside one round – struggled to find his range or rhythm early on.
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And in the eighth round, New Zealand-born Parker rocked his opponent with a thumping overhand right before backing Wilder against the ropes.
He then launched a flurry of heavy punches; an attack that left the American in a state of shock. Fan footage soon emerged of the scene after Parker earned a 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108 victory.
One fan commented on the footage, saying: "That first hit by Parker had Wilder forgetting his was still fighting for a second," while another wrote: "His skillset has always been rightly questioned but his chin is undeniable."
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A third added: "Joseph Parker just annihilated Deontay Wilder. Dominated every round and never gave Wilder any opportunities to land that deadly right hand. Massive upset."
Speaking after his defeat on Saturday night, Wilder remained upbeat despite a far-from-convincing performance.
"We came out short tonight,” he said on Instagram. "You know what, I don’t know what happened, to be honest.
“My timing was off, and I didn’t throw my punches, I didn’t let my hands go like I was supposed to. Sometimes you get like that. But you live to see another fight. You live to see another moment.”
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“I’m still full of happiness, still full of joy, still full of smile. Sorry if I let anyone down but we will be back though! That’s the thing about it, you know.”
Wilder looked tired in the closing stages of the fight, at one point attempting illegal hammer punches to the back of his opponent's head.
Plenty were unimpressed with his performance, including Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn, who suggested his hopes of facing Anthony Joshua were now over.
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"I'm just going to go and vomit and I'll be back in 20 seconds," Hearn joked to TNT Sports.
"I said in the build-up I don't rate him. Wilder had no idea, no clue. He lost 120-108, lost every round, and he's there at the end putting his hand up saying he's won the fight. He's not right. That's the reality.
“It was the most one-sided heavyweight fight I've ever seen. It's ruined our plans [for the Anthony Joshua fight].
“We've got to go back into the changing room and let Joshua know Wilder has just lost to Parker.
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“The future is not Deontay Wilder."
Thoughts on Wilder's future after his latest defeat to Joseph Parker? Let us know.
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker, Fan Reactions
Jack Kenmare